Knights Templar.

I adore Thee . " The Encampment was then closed in due form , aud the Knights adjourned to refreshment , J ^ N EWCASTLE-OX- TYNE . —Royal Kent Encampment . —Good Friday , the 6 th of April , being the regular day for installing the M . E . Commander , the Knights assembled at two o ' clock r . M ., aud the Encampment was opened by tho M . F . Com . Henry Hotham , assisted by his officers . After confirmation of the minutes the MEComElectSir KntAndrew

.. . , . Gillespie , was presented for installation , and this ceremony was duly performed by Sir Knt . John Barker , First Grand Captain of England , ably assisted by the father ol the Encampment , Sir Knt . AYilliam Puusheou , P . G . H . On the M . E . Commander being duly inducted on the throne , he proceeded to appoint and install the following as the officers for the ensuing year : —Sir Kuts . Henry Hotham , P . E . C . ; AA m . Punsheon , Prior ; AA m . Dalzeil , Sub-Prior ; Rev . S . Atkinson , Prelate ; Win Chancellor Bell

. Berkley , ; Henry , Vice-Chancellor ; H . G . Ludwig , First Captain ; C . J . Bannister , Second Captain ; John Rutter , Registrar ; F . P . Jonn , Treasurer ; Capt . J . Kendall , Expert : Francis Stead , Almoner ; J . T . Hoyle , Captain of Lines ; J . J . Wilson and James Dees , Heralds ; J . J . Trotter , Equery . After collection and distributing of alms , as is the usual custom on this day , the Knights adjourned to refreshment , when due honour was given to the loyal and Masonic toasts , not omitting the memory of their sainted predecessors .

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

PROVINCIAL CHAPTER . INVICTA CHAPTER OF SOVEREIGN PRINCES ROSE CROIX . —The above Chapter was convened on Friday last , at the Masonic Hall , AAllliamstrcet , AA oolwich , the Officers in attendance being the 111 . Bros . Colonel Clerk , M . AY . Sov . ; AV . H . Carter , 1 st Gen . ; AY . Smith , C . E . ; Raphael , LAV . ; Figg , Grand Marshal ; Matthew Cooke , Organist . The 111 . Bro . Hyde Clarke 32 ° did the Chapter the honour of visiting itand kindly

, , , officiated as Prelate . The business of the meeting was the installation of Bro . Robert Francis Fairlie , C . E ., of the Britannic Lodge , No . 38 , who was perfected by the M . W . Sov . in a solemn and dignified manner . The illustrious brethren having adjourned to refreshment at the Freemasons' Tavern , the M . W . Sovereign said it was not usually the custom of the Invicta Chapter to proceed with set forms of toasts . They generally spent the evening in Masonic conversationiving and receiving

, g such information as it was in the power of each of them to afford , but iic felt on the present occasion they must do honour to three especial toasts ; that of the Supreme Grand Council had been already disposed of , aud now they came to the second , which was that of the 111 . Bro . Hyde Clarke , one of the highest and most accomplished Masons in this country . That illustrious brother had been nominated Master of the Smyrna Lodge , aud he felt sure that no Eastern Lodge could have in better

rejoiced a selection had they made it themselves ; therefore he called upon them to drink to " Tho health of their 111 . Bro . Hyde Clarke , " a member of the 32 ° . The 111 . Bro . Hyde Clarke replied , and alluded to the maimer in which the Smyrna Lodges had been brought under the rule of the Grand Lodge of England . He also entered into many subjects which are not proper to be printed here , and concluded by stating that this visit was one of great interest to him , for he had attend many Rose Croix Chapters , both at home and abroad , and he nowhere saw tho preparations for that beautiful rite more handsomely carried out , the appointments being perfectthe tavern influence swept

, away , and the zeal of the officers everything that could be desired . In the M . AY . Sov ., the Invicta Chapter was fortunate , for it was presided over by a Mason of great attainments , a kind brother , and a polished gentleman , and it would give him ( the 111 . Bro . Hyde Clarke ) , on his next return to England , much pleasure to be present again . The M . AY . Sov . said that now came toast the third ; they had just done honour to one of the highest Masons , now he called upon them to welcome their newly installed 111 . Bro . asthojuuior amongst them . He had heard in another

place what were his duties and what were some of his privileges , and he hoped that they were such as every good Mason would lay up and treasure in his heart , making his acts exemplfy the force ol his faith . ^ He then proposed " Tho health of the newly installed 111 . Bro . Rob . F . Fairlie . " The 111 . ' Bro . Fairlie responded , expressing his very great satisfaction in having taken the IS " , and his surprise that so few Masons sought to be enrolled in the high grades . After what he had seen he could not account for his own apathy in the matter otherwise than b he knew

y saying nothing about them , nobody seemed to know how to got them ; and as that was the case , ho presumed , so it was the cause of Masons generally not seeking tho knowledge afforded in them , for his own part he had found his way up the ladder amongst them , and would help any others that he thought eligible members , of which lie believed there were many anxious to progress in knowledge , and who would hail the Rose Croix degree with as much enthusaism as he did . f hanking them for admitting him themaud for the kindness of

among , the M . W . S . in proposing his health , he promised himself the pleasure of attending as often as he could , and would defer all but the most important engagements to take his place in the Invicta Chapter . The III . brethren separated at an early hour well pleased with each other and their beautiful rite . It was proposed , seconded , and carried unanimousl y , that the Invicta Chapter beg to represent to the I Supreme Grand Council of the thirty-third degree , the desirability of

Ancient And Accepted Rite.

issuiug a year book of all the high grades throughout the world , and that certain members be formed into a committee for the purpose of corresponding with them on the subject ,

Colonial.

COLONIAL .

SYDNEY . MASONIC FUNERAL : INTEROTOTrON OP THE MASONIC CEREMONY BY

THE BISHOP . THE funeral of Eros . J . and J . C . Horner took place on Sunday morning , February -fth . The melancholy interest with which the sad and premature fate of the deceased gentlemen * had invested the solemnity was conspicuously displayed by the large number of persons , seine iu vehicles , aud some on foot , who had at an early hour assembled at the late residence of the unfortunate gentlemen , in order to follow their remains to the final resting place . The members of the ancient Order

of Free and Accepted Masons also mustered in large numbers to pay the last honours to two of their loved and respected brethren , aud to perform those funeral rites peculiar to tho Craft . In accordance with previous arrangement , the funeral started from the late residence of the deceased at nine o ' clock , A . M ., the bodies beingconveyed in two separate hearses , two mourning coaches following with the relatives and intimate personal friends of the late gentlemen , and preceded by the Masonic bod

y . On arriving at the paddock near the toll-gate , the Masonic body left their carriages , and having put on the Masonic clothing peculiar to the different constitutions , formed into procession , and marched , preceding the hearse , to the cemetery . On arriving at the cemetery tho procession stopped , and , having divided , formed into two columns , between which the bodies were carried to the grave , attended by six Past Masters as pall-boarers , and then

followed by the relatives of the deceased . The Masonic body formed a eivcle around the grave , the Provincial Grand Lodges being in the centre . The Rev .. Dr . AVoolley , Prov . G . Chaplain , S . C ., read the burial service of the Church of England ; after which , the R . AY . D . Prov . G . M ., Bro . J . Williams , performed the Masonic ceremony , which was listened to with narked attention by all present , the uninitiated evincing considerable nterest in the sublime and impressive ceremony , AVe annex an extract from the oration : —

"Here we view a striking instance of the uncertainty of life , aud thy vanity of all human pursuits . The last offices paid to the dead are only useful as lectures to the living ; from them we are to derive instruction , and consider every solemnity of this kind as a summons to prepare for our approaching dissolution . " Notwithstanding the various mementoes of mortality with which we daily meet , notwithstanding death has established his empire over all the works of nature , yet through some unaccountable infatuation , wc 7

arc apt to forget that we are born to die . AAe go on from one design to another , add hope to hope , and lay out plans for the employment of many years , till we arc suddenly alarmed with the approach of death when we least expect him , and at an hour which , amidst the gaitics of life , we probably conclude to be the meridian of our existence . "What are all the externals of majesty , the pride of wealth , or charms of beauty , when nature has paid her just debt ! Fix your eyes on the last sconeview life stripped of her ornamentsand exposed in her

; , natural meanness ; you will then be convinced of the futility of those empty delusions . In the grave all fallacies are detected , all ranks levelled , and all distinctions done away . " AVhile we drop the sympathetic tear over the grave of our deceased friends , let charity incline us to throw a veil over their foibles , whatever they may have been , and not withhold from their memory the praise which their virtues may have claimed . Suffer the apologies of human nature to plead in their behalf . Perfection on earth has never been

attained ; the wisest , as well as the best of men have erred . Their meritorious aetious it is our duty to imitate , and from their weaknesses we are to derive instruction . " Let the present example excite our most serious thoughts , and strengthen our resolution of amendment . Life being uncertain , and all earthly pursuits vain , let us no longer postpone the important concern of preparing for eternity ; but embrace the happy moment , while time and opportunity offerto provide against that great change when all the

, pleasures of the world shall cease to delight , and the reflections of a virtuous conduct yield the only comfort and consolation . Our expectations will not then be frustrated , nor shall wc be hurried , unprepared , into the presence of an all wise and powerful Judge , to whom tho secrets of all hearts are known , and from whose dread tribunal no culprit can escape .

" Let us , while in this stage of existence , support with propriety tho character of our profession , advert to the nature of our solemnities , and pursue with assiduity the sacred tenets of the Order ; with becoming reverence let us supplicate the Divine protection , aud ensure the favour of that Eternal Being whose goodness and power know no bounds ; and when the awful moment arrives that we are about to take our departure , be it soon or late , may we be enabled to prosecute our journey without * AVe believe our brethren were drowned whilst out on a pleasure excursion , —En ,